
Class LjU. 

Book L ^-U&6 







Oopyri£htN _i£ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



GOLDEN 

THOUGTS 



By SANFORD D. POLLARD 



->K~ 



NEW YORK 






Copyright, 1915, 
By SANFORD D. POLLARD 



mqv |8 1915 



"CI.A416445 



MY SENTIMENT 



What care I for all your praises 
Which upon me you endow, 
After death his hand upraises 
Places it upon my hrow? 

Your sweet gifts of praise and flowers 
I had rather you would give 
To me in my lonely hours, 
While on earth with you I live. 

W^hy hedeck my grave with roses 
And affections to me give, 
Fill my casket with sweet poses, 
Yet neglect me while I live? 



10 
MY SENTIMENT 



If I'm worthy of the flowers 
That you condescend to give 
When grim death my life devours, 
Why not worthy while I live? 



Soothe me when my heart is worried, 
While my life is filled with care ; 
For when 'neath the clods I'm buried, 
Soothe cannot avail me there. 



Give me what you deign to give me 
Now, while it may give me cheer, 
Bring not to my grave to pay me 
The respect you owe me here. 



11 

A HAPPY JOURNEY 



F would like to take a journey 
Through that land as sweet as honey* 
Where the fruits and flowers never cease to 

grow; 
Walk into that fragrant garden, 
Where no sullied foot has trodden, 
Where delightful rivers never cease to flow. 



It would give me without measure 

Joy, ecstatic bliss and pleasure, 

Just to watch the lovers spooning 'mongst the 

pines ; 
Where the nightingales are singing, 
And the merry bells are ringing, 



12 
A HAPPY JOURNEY 



As they walk and talk beneath those shady 
vines. 



Where they multiply their blisses 

With the balm of love and kisses, 

In the places which they fashion there to spoon ; 

Beneath the branches low and high, 

O how I wish 'twere you and I ! 

All the morning, evening, yea, and afternoon. 



13 
IN THE TEMPEST 



When night's shades are o'er me creeping, 

And the bitter storm is sweeping, 

And I in my, barge am launched upon the sea : 

When the hungry deep is foaming, 

And afar from thee I'm roaming, 

I am thinking love, I'm dreaming still of thee. 



Then while angry sea is roaring, 
And the bitter floods are pouring, 
Let thy heart incline to me more tenderly ; 
When for thee my heart is yearning, 
Tf my love thou be not spurning, 
Thro' the watches of the night, oh, dream of 
me. 



14 
SPRING 



Never mind the dreadful winter, 
Though fierce tempest it may bring; 
Sunshine, smiles and peace will enter 
At the coming of the spring. 



Then we'll see wild flowers a-blooming, 
Rich and dainty, great and small, 
And around them bees a-humming, 
Bidding welcome to them all. 



Every rose and every lily, 
Pansy sweet and daffodil, 
Will be scattering in profusion 
All their loveliness at will ; 



15 
SPRING 



Shedding forth their sweetest fragrance, 
Permeating all the air, 
Stimulating all in nature, 
Spreading rapture everywhere! 



Flower gardens grand and spacious 
Will be bathing in the sun, 
Smiling to a source so gracious, 
Telling that new life's begun. 



Buttercups and morningglory 
Gracing every plain and hill, 
Testifying to the story 
Of a life that's sweeter still. 



16 
HIS NAME WAS WILL 



They were seated in the park, 

Where the shades had gathered dark, 

And the whippoorwill was hippoorwilling on; 

Then he gave a sudden coo, 

And he spread his wings and flew, 

When he saw he did not whip-poor-will alone. 



They were listening to the rill 

As it rippled down the hill, 

When he flirted with a dame who passed 

along ; 
Then she whipped her Will so loud, 
That she drew the watching crowd, 
And the whippoorwill forgot his merry song. 



17 
WHEN I AM GONE 



When death's cold hand my woeful life 

Shall humble, 
And you of me have shortly been 

Bereft, 
Let all your grief for me decay and 

Crumble, 
No vain regret be in your memory 

Left. 



Don't think of how we used to be 

Together, 
Remember not the words that I have 

Said ; 
Forget about how much we loved each 

Other, 
Remember not the fact that I am 

Dead. 



18 
WHEN I AM GONE 



Your loving heart must never, never 

Borrow 
An atom from the memory of 

To-day ; 
Your eyes must shed no tears of 

Grief or sorrow, 
When this old body sleeps beneath 

The clav. 



No thought of me should banish all 

Your pleasure, 
No horrid crape for me should you 

Put on, 
To bring to you an atom of 

Displeasure — 
A thought of me, when T am dead 

And gone. 



19 
WHEN I AM GONE 



When I first met you, your sweet face 

Was cherried, 
And bore a smile of sweet and witching 

Grace ; 
When in the grave my body you have 

Buried, 
Let that same smile illuminate 

Your face. 



Now let this message be to you a 
Warning, 

Give heed I pray, to every word 

I've said; 
No ineffective tears of lonely 

Longing 

.Must flood your cheeks when I am 
I , vine dead. 



20 
A BAD GUESS 



The green leaves were falling, 

A sweet voice was calling, 

'Neath tree tops that dazzled with glee; 

The soft breeze was sighing, 

The sun's rays were dying, 

As we sat by the big aspen tree. 



So gentle and so sweet, 

With a face all replete 

With smiles, sat a beautiful dame; ; 

Who's so grand and unique, 

And seemed longing to speak, 

But her countenance blushing ( with shame. 



21 
A BAD GUESS 



Her face looked so merry ! 

Her cheeks looked so cherry! 

wSuggesting the flush of a rose ; 

Whose lips bore a kiss 

From the sunlight of bliss, 

And was beaming in lovely repose. 



I was ridden of fear, 

And to her I drew near, 

My spirit o'erflowing with glee; 

When she turned round and said: 

"I would surely be glad 

If you men folks would stop worrying me I 1 ' 



22 
AN UNMEASURED SEA 



The eyes that looked into my own 

Were fathomless pools of love, 

The tangled mesh of sunlight hair 

Was but the golden grove 

Beneath whose vjnes I sipped the love 

Which did my heart enliven, 

From lips that melted in mine own — 

The ruby gates of heaven. 



She said to me, 'The time has come 
When I from thee must part, 
Before I go from thee to roam, 
Come press me to thy heart ;" 



23 
AN UNMEASURED SEA 



My moments lost in reverie, 
Absorbed in her caress, 
Bespeaks an avalanche of love 
Too lofty to express. 



That loving face I can't forget, 

Those precious, haunting eyes, 

Like phantoms did they gaze from one 

Whom I did idolize! 

This spot is fraught with memories 

Of days now past and gone, 

Of how I held in my embrace 

The girl I thought my own. 



24 
LET IT ALONE 



Do not let your friends entice you 
To imbibe the poisoned cup, 
Which contains the baneful liquor 
That will burn your vitals up. 



It will undermine your system, 
It will bring you tears and sighs ; 
For 'tis known that health and liquor 
Never, never harmonize. 



You might row with perfect safety 
Far above the cataract 
Of the wonderful Niagara, 
Many chances to retract. 



25 
LET IT ALONE 



If you drift beyond the danger- 
Line, where fearful billows clash, 
Then no ray of hope remaineth, 
You must take the fatal dash. 



So it is with every drinker 
Groping 'long the drunkard's path, 
Drifting down to degradation, 
Clutched within the throes of death. 



When he gets the awful habit, 
Then he loses self control, 
And he knows no stop nor checking 
Till is lost his very soul. 



26 
LET IT ALONE 



If you wish to try a little, 
Before sipping, stop and' think; 
For there's nothing more pernicious 
Than the moderate use of drink. 



So refuse it, do not use it, 
It will prove to you a foe, 
Early death will be your portion. 
It will strike the fatal blow. 



Ah, 'tis awful in its torment, 
It will never satisfy, 
And your thirst for it continues 
Though you drink until you die. 



27 
LET IT ALONE 



It will be too late to listen 
After health and strength are gone; 
If you want them to continue, 
You must let strong drink alone. 



28 
LOST CARE 



When with the girl you truly love 

You lose the world of care, 

When you can breathe your breath among 

The fibres of her hair ; 

When lips with lips meet tenderly 

In passion's quenchless flame, 

And drink the wine of sweetest love 

That quenches grief and shame. 



29 
MAN IS HEAD 



Where does man go for comfort, 
In the hours of despair? 
To woman, and to lay his head 
Upon her bosom fair. 



And when his careworn spirit sinks 
In the ocean of distress, 
Her spirit stoops upon the brink 
To soothe, to cheer and bless. 



"Heaven's last best gift to man," 
Ts not enough to say 
Of her who stimulates the race, 
I 'reserves it from decay. 



30 
MAN IS HEAD 



Nerves man for his Gethsemanes, 
His life she doth improve, 
Diffuses halo, light and joy 
\\ her ever she doth move. 



From whence did man the thought absorb, 
From what source is it fed, 
That woman he should rule with force 
Because he is the head? 



He brought it from the rough stone Age; 

Tis time to put it down — 

Tis surely true that man is head, 

But woman is the crown. 



31 
MAN IS HEAD 



Twas from his side this jewel came, 
His equal fair to be, 
And near his heart to be beloved, 
Through joy and misery. 



tenderness is unexcelled, 
Love's object she must be, 
Yet she has been the object of 
Man's base brutality. 



'Tis she who shares man's every grief, 
Has led him everywhere, 
From victory unto victory, 
With tender hands of care; 



32 

MAN IS HEAD 



Who's sacrificed her noble life 
To help him reach his mark ; — 
No nobler type need we produce 
Than wee loan of Arc. 



When in Orleans where English troops 
Had won the fight, it seems, 
When she had crowned the king of France 
In that great church of Rheims; 



When she had saved her native land, 
And home she sought to go, 
He ruthlessly forsook her and 
Consigned her to the foe. 



33 
MAN IS HEAD 



When Jesus left his throne and came 
Into this world of strife, 
Where worldly priests and evil men 
Connived to take his life, 

'Twas woman wept and pled in vain, 
His life to save she tried; 
'Twas man who mocked Him with disdain, 
And man who crucified. 



I prize her as a diadem. 
Suggesting all that's fair; 
I greet her as an angel sent 
To sound the depths of care. 



34 
MAN IS HEAD 



I hail her as the sunny side 
Of Life's tempestuous shore; 
And every time I breathe her name 
I love her more and more. 



35 
ASLEEP OR DEAD 



I've often wondered to myself, 
How long will Justice sleep? 
And could he close his eyes again 
Would he but take a peep 
At those who suffer agony 
Wrought by the sullied hand 
That robs men of their liberty, 
Ignoring God's command. 

I've often wondered to myself, 
And even vainly said: 
"I wonder if old Justice sleeps, 
Or is he really dead?" 
Soliloquizing all the while — 
Although I may be wrong — 
"If it be true he is not dead, 
Why does he sleep so long?" 



36 
ASLEEP OR DEAD 



An unseen presence seems to say: 

"He shall not always sleep. 

My word has gone from Me to thee, 

My Covenant I'll keep. 

Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, 

A few more days endure ; 

My righteous sword shall be unsheathed 

To save the humble poor." 



37 
A NECESSARY REVOLUTION 



If only I had power o'er all 

Creation, 
Could I but rule the heart of 

Every man, 
I'd unite every kingdom, race 

And nation, 
Convert them into one great 

Happy band. 

I'd check men in the fury of 

Their passion, 
I'd dissipate all causes for 

Alarm, 
Till every heart would melt with 

Deep compassion. 
And fiery love that burns through 

Every storm. 



38 
A NECESSARY REVOLUTION 



No envy nor malignant tongued 

Hypocrisy, 
Nor prejudice should mar my 

Kingdom's mirth; 
'Twould be a boon to all forms 

Of democracy 
Tf such had died when ignorance gave 

Them birth. 



No human mind can wisely rule 

A nation, 
Nor sail full speed the intellectual 

Sea, 
Promote the growth of love and 

Vindication, 
While prejudice inflames the 

Memory. 



39 
A NECESSARY REVOLUTION 



If fortune had endowed me with 

Great riches, 
I'd utilize my wealth amongst 

The poor, 
In giving bread to satisfy their 

Wishes ; 
For nothing else would fill their 

Longings more. 

I'd put an end to all their needless 

Sufferings, 
Their aching hearts should promptly 

Be consoled; 
Fd concentrate my aims in one 

Direction — 
To solace them, yea, shield them 

From the cold. 



40 
A NECESSARY REVOLUTION 



I'd build for them colossal 

Institutions, 
But not the kind where many books 

Are read ; 
'Twould be the kind where liberal 

Contributions , 
Were made, where hungry mortals 

Might be fed. 



41 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



My heart was stirred with restless bells 

A-ringing, 
The soft sweet chimes came rippling o'er 

The hill; 
The merry, chirping birds were gaily 

Singing, 
The distant woods laughed back a merry 

Thrill. 



A glimmering light stood on the moon-lit 

Mountain, 
For darkness gathered 'neath her 

Fleecy trees ; 
A flood of shimmering waves traversed 

The fountain, 
Wafting from there a cool, refreshing 

Breeze. 



42 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



And then the air was hushed with painful 

Silence — 
A sudden rustle, then a startled 

Face, 
A lover's hand had seized it, it seemed by 

Violence, 
A maiden full of beauty, charm and 

Grace. 



He took her in his arms and pressed 

Her sweetly, 
Devouring lips and cheeks and sunny 

Hair 
With kisses then, that drowned almost 

Completely 
The maiden who was gentle, sweet and 

Fair. 



43 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



I listened there to every word he 

Told her, 
While gazing at her graceful form 

So fair ; 
Then fell upon her sweet and matchless 

Shoulder 
A ^tittering veil of dainty golden 

Hair. 



"Why be so cruel, dear, why don't 

You listen ? 
How can you have the heart to bid 

Me go?" 
Pathetic tears his longing eyes 

O'erflooded. 
He spoke again: "Oh, do not say 

Me, no." 



44 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



"Depart from me," she said, "love's 

Dream is ended/' 
Then disengaged herself from his 

Embrace, 
"You have betrayed the love I've 

Long defended, 
'Tween me and you I beg unbounded 

Space." 

"Farewell," he said, and .down the 

Road he started; 
"For love of wealth I spurned this 

Faithful girl; 
My friends' advice has made me 

Broken-hearted, 
Farewell, my love, my all, my 

Priceless pearl." 



45 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



Then with a sigh she gazed across 

The mountain, 
The woods were gay, the hills were 

All aglow, 
Her throbbing heart submerged a 

Noble fountain, 
But not the one that kissed the 

Banks below. 



She passed into her grand, exquisite 

Parlor, 
I Vrplexed at my bewildered, beaming 

Stare, 
Lamenting as he journeyed from 

Her, farther; 
And laid her head upon the sofa 

There. 



46 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



Then cupid shot me with his 

Burning arrow, 
My heart became his target, yea 

His game, 
His kindled coals burned deep down 

In my marrow, 
The amber sparks leaped into 

Crimson flame. 

'Twas hard then to conceal the 

Fascination 
Which drew me to the girl I 

Did adore, 
I could not drown the flow of 

Admiration 
Which sought to undermine my 

Peaceful core. 



47 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



I wondered now if I were really 

Dreaming — 
Such diadems of lustrous golden 

Hair! 
Forthwith to captivate her was 

My scheming, 
But touch those golden locks I 

Did not dare. 

"I know that love's great passion 

Is eternal, " 
I said to her, "I cannot tell you 

Why, 
For this in me I know is not 

Ephemeral, 
My love for you will never, never 

Die." 



48 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



''My heart I've given to my own dear 

Willie," 
Said she ; "To your suggestion I'll 

Say nay, 
1 To heed your foolish wiles, sir, 

I'd be silly;" 
And then my spirit sank in deep 

Dismay. 

"But if to me you give your love, 

Unbroken," 
Said I, "I'd put an end to all your 

Strife, 
Kind words would be my everlasting 

Token, 
To me vou are the very joy 

Of life." 



49 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



Then from her lips came vengeful 

Exclamation, 
That gentle voice and face so 

Fair and sweet, 
Resented me with fearful 

Condemnation, 
And lo, my grief, my dismay was 

Complete. 

Next evening came; she heard a voice- 

Twas Willie's: 
It called her from the realm of sigh 

And dream, 
Again they took a stroll amongst the 

Lilies, 
Where love became the all absorbing 

Theme. 



50 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



"Forgive me, dear, I love you and 

" None other ;" 
He said to her, "My heart belongs 

To you; 
"Come now, sweet love, let's lock our 

Hearts together, 
One day of bliss be ours life's 

Journey through." 

An atmosphere of sweet turquoise 

Reflection 
Gave tone to her bewildered, gentle 

Voice ; 
She scanned a flame of smiles m 

His direction, 
And made his aching heart once more 

Reioice. 



51 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



The shadows of the trees were deepening 

Ever, 
The star-fringed branches softly 

Beckoned me; 
The stars, it seemed, achieved their one 

Endeavor, 
To twinkle on the crest of every 

Tree. 

Her loving heart to him again she'd 

Given, 
Against his own it throbbed most 

Tenderly ; 
She greeted him then with a smile 

Of heaven 
And gave a kiss as sweet as sweet 

Could be. 



52 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



Oh, if, as some say, love is naught 

But sinning, 
In grewsome death my sins I'll 

Not deny; 
Love then shall he ray crime in life's 

Last inning, 
For I expect to love until T 

Die. 

Does not this love of ours descend 

From Heaven ? 
Is this not the reflection of God's 

Love? 
Eternal life no credence could be 

Given 
If Love had not its source in Him 

Above. 



53 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



I'd rather live a life of pain and 

Pleasure 
Where I might freely share the 

Sweetness of 
The girl I love — my glory and 

My treasure, 
Than live forever where there is 

No love. 

"But what," you say, "is love where 

There is dying, 
Compared with life which all may share 

Thereof ? 
No pains to bear, no suffering and 

No sighing?" 
But what is life, if destitute 

Of love? 



54 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



A life devoid of love suits not 

My notion, 
For if we'll only trust the God 

Above, 
I'm sure that this will be our 

Blessed portion: 
Eternal life and everlasting 

Love. 

The songs of nightingales may stir 

The willows, 
The ripples may traverse the great 

Lagoon ; 
The mountain-tops may toss like waves 

And billows, 
But Love will supersede the sun and 

Moon. 



55 
THE POWER OF LOVE 



Ofttimes I gaze at death, the 

Ruthless giant, 
My loathing for him I cannot 

Remove ; 
I'd rather live and love where death 

Is tyrant, 
Than live forever where there is 

No love. 

I'd rather live a life unknown 

To honor, 
With love and death ordained to 

Be my lot ; 
f'd rather live and love where death 

Must conquer, 
Than have eternal life where love 

Is not. 



56 
WHO CREATED HELL 



The evening shades were drawing on, 

The sun was almost gone, 

And through the ether blue the stars 

Came peeping one by one. 

I walked along a lonely path, 

Longing some peace to find ; 

A thought of all the heartless past 

Came drifting through my mind. 



I thought of Him who made this world- 

At first a barren place, 

A planet insignificant 

In God's vast realm of space. 



57 
WHO CREATED HELL 



I thought of Him who made the seas, 
Holds them in bounds so well; 
But most distressing was the thought 
Of who created Hell! 

God made the brilliant moon and stars 

To fill the heavens with light, 

Our sun with incandescent power 

To make the day from night. 

He made the birds that sweetly sing 

On hill and plain and dell 

Their mellow songs of joy and love — 

But never made He Hell. 



58 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Through space God spread great flaming suns. 

Vast worlds that shine so bright, 

Which though remote from this old earth 

Shed phosphorescent light. 

All these He made and called them good — 

The Scriptures do this tell; 

In them nowhere does God declare 

Eternal torment Hell. 

The love that flows from human breasts 
And makes this life worth while, 
Is all that fills these hearts of ours, 
That brings the joyful smile. 



59 
WHO CREATED HELL 



But the love of man compared with God's 
Great love and sympathy, 
Fades and grows dim ; God's love doth fill 
Our souls with ecstasy. 

O God, so full of love and power, 

Thy mercy's rich and grand ! 

And all Thy gifts Thy Son did show 

Were from Thy bounteous hand. 

'Twas man who painted Thee so vile — 

'Tis far too sad to tell! — 

And preached this manufactured stuff 

About the flames of Hell. 



60 
WHO CREATED HELL 



I love to sit and praise the name 

Of Him who reigns above, 

And picture Him as great and wise, 

The Embodiment of Love; 

I've found His mercy is supreme, 

Since with Him I'm acquainted; 

I've learned that He's not base and vile, 

As He has long been painted — 

Barren of all true sympathy, 
And destitute of love, 
Does this the character portray 
Of The Holy One above? 



61 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Twas Satan foisted this vile scheme, 
The ignorant to deceive ; 
How glad am I to know 'tis false ! 
No longer I believe. 



Such blasphemy against God's name ! 

'Tis no restraint to crime; 

'Twas introduced by blinded men 

In centuries dark with crime. 

Go search the penitentiaries, 

The slums and dens as well — 

They're filled with those who have been taught 

The endless woes of Hell. 



62 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Old superstition's cunning wiles 
Have filled our hearts with fears, 
Have drowned the earth as by a flood 
With blood and bitter tears: 
Have sown rank hate in every land, 
Have caused our hearts to mourn ; — 
O would to God that it had died 
The day that it was born ! 

Tis but the child of ignorance, 
Its voice do I deplore; 
It ever goes from place to place 
And knocks at every door. 



63 
WHO CREATED HELL 



But God is just ! His time has come ! 
This giant shall be slain ! 
And superstition old and hoar 
Shall now no longer reign! 

God's Word declares with trumpet voice 

His greatest work shall be 

To ope the mighty prison doors, 

And set the captives free! 

Death's prison-house shall open wide, 

The nations all shall fall; 

Truth's waves shall sweep away the lies 

That did our hearts appall. 



64 
WHO CREATED HELL 



And God will slay — thus saith His Word- 

The wicked with His breath ; 

For He declares in voice of power, 

"The wage of sin is death !" 

The worthy shall forever live! 

The soul that sins shall die! 

The theory that souls live in Hell, 

Let heart and voice deny. 

"I set before thee life and death; 
Choose life!" — thus saith the Lord; 
But all the creeds of Christendom 
This word from God made void. 



65 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Old Satan's influence covered the earth ; 
God's Truth the world forgot; 
And men believed the falsehood Truth — 
God's word a thing of naught. 

To Adam and Eve the tempter said : 

"Ye shall not surely die!" 

And all the creeds, as well as they, 

Accepted Satan's lie. 

They claim with heart and might and soul 

The dead in life abide, 

And live in Heaven or in Hell, 

As though they had not died. 



66 
WHO CREATED HELL 



"The soul that sinneth, it shall die!" 

This truthful text we find ; — 

If this the creeds have not observed 

I'm sure that they are blind! 

"He spared not their souls from death/' 

We find those words in Psalm, 

Seventy-eighth chapter, fiftieth verse; 

But Truth has lost its charm ! 

I'll wonder not if hypocrites 
Shall spread my name abroad, 
And tell my neighbors I deny 
The existence of a God ! 



67 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Such slanderers condemned the Lord- 
Expect I more of men ? 
If He were here in flesh today, 
They'd kill the Lord again ! 

They cannot bear to hear His Word, 

It has no place in them; 

And if you dare to tell the Truth, 

Forthwith they you condemn. 

They'll evil-speak you to their friends, 

Your reputation mar; 

They'll slander you — it goes to show 

What so-called Christians are. 



68 
WHO CREATED HELL 



The creeds for all their advocates 

Have little or no attraction; 

In fact, they have no real effect 

Upon their course of action. 

And day by day the selfish way 

Of pleasure they pursue, 

Though they preach Hell to wicked men 

Until the air turns blue ! 

superstitions fade away! 
May every fettish fall, 
That true ideas may prevail 

To help us one and all ! 



69 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Dishonest men still lie of God, 
But their power will soon be broken ; 
God's bow of promise_ spans the sky, 
His everlasting token ! 

A God of mercy made our race, 

But Satan did deceive, 

Then held o'er man a burning Hell !— 

His lie I'll ne'er believe! 

His dupes my name will sure besmirch 

When I this secret tell : 

Twas God created heaven and earth 

But man created Hell! 



70 
WHO CREATED HELL 



In what condition shall those be 
Who shall persist in sin? 
Obadiah 16 tells us this — 
"As though they had not been." 
God said to Adam "Dust thou art, 
To dust thou shalt return;" 
But not one word respecting Hell, 
Where quenchless fires burn! 

'Twas God who gave His Son to die 
Poor sinful men to save, 
And made for them who disobey 
A hell which is the grave. 



71 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Twas man who put the fires there, 
And thus blasphemed His name, 
Disgraced the character of God — 
O 'tis a burning shame ! 

Death is God's punishment for sin, 

The price which all must pay; 

But Jesus came to ransom men — 

To roll this curse away! 

The saints with Him shall reign in light, 

But every one who hath 

No love for Him shall die again — 

An everlasting death. 



72 
WHO CREATED HELL 



Our Lord a miracle performed, 

In calling from the dead 

His friend — the man whom Jesus loved- 

To Heaven He raised His head : 

"Lazarus, come forth !" He cried aloud ; 

Back to him life He gave ! 

He called him, not from life beyond, 

But merely from the grave. 

The creeds aver that Lazarus stood 
Amid that mighty host 
Of cherubim and seraphim, 
God and the Holy Ghost. 



73 
WHO CREATED HELL 



But had he not been really dead, 
I'm willing to take oath 
The Scriptures never would have said 
"He that was dead came forth!" 



The gift of God is eternal life — 
Pain's glorious aftermath; 
But wicked men shall cease to be- 
"The wage of sin is death." 
If any think that death is not 
The wage of wilful sin, 
Just this advice let me suggest : 
Your Bible read again! 



74 
THE CRITICS 



Shall I curb my lone ambition ? 

Shall I therefore cease to think? 

Just because their fangs the critics 

In my reputation sink? 

No, I'm going to tell my story, 

I shall tell it my own way, 

I shall speak my true conviction; 

T don't care what critics say. 

Shall T sacrifice the freedom 
Which is mine to say what is ? 
Just because some envious critic 
Says my thoughts are not like his ? 



75 
THE CRITICS 



No, I mean to speak my judgment, 
Please it whom it will or may; 
I expect to do my thinking, 
Matters not what critics say. 

I shall hold my own opinion, 
I shall think and I shall say 
From my heart my own conviction, 
Say they what they will or may. 
Let them hollo all they wish to, 
They don't have my bills to pay; 
Why, then, should I fret and worry 
About what poor critics say? 



76 
THE CRITICS 



I'll not try to please the critics; 
Let them talk till they are through, 
I shall try to please the masses, 
Those whose hearts are free and true. 
Jesus could not please the critics, 
For the Bible tells us so; 
Why, then, should I be so silly 
As to try to please a foe? 



